Rankings:
Scouts Inc.: #58 tackle. Grade: 30, borderline draft prospect.
Biography/Honors:
2013: First-team all-Big Sky. Three-year starter. Started all 12 games at right tackle. Portland State ran for 277.7 yards a game and had 36 rushing TDs. PSU was 3rd in Division 1-AA in total offense and rushing offense and also among the leaders in fewest sacks allowed.
2012: Honorable mention all-Big Sky. Started 10 games at right tackle. PSU allowed only 7 sacks all season, 4th-best in the nation.
2011: Started all 11 games at right tackle.
2010: Backup lineman. Played in 3 games.
2009: Medical redshirt.
Academics: Majored in criminology and criminal justice.
Injuries:
2009: had shoulder surgery and sat out the season.
2012: Missed one game due to MRSA.
Twitter handle: @Mitch64psu
Pro Day Stats:
(2014 Combine averages for tackles in parentheses)
(Not invited to NFL Combine)
40-yard dash: 5.12 (5.18)
10-yard split: 1.83 (1.76)
Vertical jump: 27" (27.5")
Broad jump: 8'7" (8'8")
3-cone drill: 7.47 (7.78)
20-yard shuttle: 4.88 (4.69)
Bench presses: 14 (26 – 20 was the worst any offensive lineman did at the Combine)
Scouting Report:
Developmental right tackle prospect with upside. Former high school tight end. Excellent athlete for his size. Has long arms and quick, strong hands. Good footwork, flexibility, hand placement and pad level for his height. Plays with a good base and gets into his blocks quickly. Uses body position and angles well to seal off defenders. Stays square and has good field alertness. Has played some left tackle. Experienced, with 33 career starts. Plays with passion and enthusiasm. Plays to the whistle. Hard worker and team leader. Strong run-blocking lineman.
Marginal athleticism. Flexibility and mobility may be good for his size, but still aren't all that good. Heavy footed, not good at all blocking on the move and struggles with speedy edge rushers. Needs to keep working on footwork and hand usage. Compares to: Sean Hooey
Fun Facts:
Mitchell won a Victor E. Viking Award in 2012 for his effort on the field. That's the Portland State Victor E. Viking, not the Northern Kentucky Victor E. Viking. He (Mitchell, that is, not Victor) is interested in becoming a detective. I assume he would be the world's largest detective if he can make it happen. And that would be TV sitcom gold. Mitchell was recruited by, and played a season for… Jerry Glanville. Also TV sitcom gold.
RamView:
The Rams continued their draft emphasis on physicality and ability to slug it out with the rest of the division by drafting Van Dyk. Portland State has become one of the best running offenses at their level, and Van Dyk's a big, experienced tackle who was a big part of that. If he can pick up some pass pro technique from Paul Boudreau, he's at worst on the practice squad. The little we know about him says he's got the work ethic to make that happen. OK pick.
Sources: NFLDraftScout.com, Scouts Inc., Portland State University athletics, The Oregonian, San Luis Obispo Tribune, College2Pro.com, DraftInsider.net, Wikipedia, Ramview (Mike Franke)